Clashes kill six civilians in Yemen’s Aden

Southern separatists stop cars on a street as smoke billows from a car service shop during clashes in AdenFriday. (Reuters)
  • Violence between pro-government fighters and those seeking an independent south has flared since Wednesday

ADEN: At least six civilians were killed and 12 others wounded Friday during clashes in Yemen’s second city Aden, a security source said, as violence flares between pro-government fighters and those seeking an independent south.
The fighting erupted on Wednesday and has continued unabated between the two sides, who are in effect backers of the Aden-based internationally recognized government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
One faction however is known as the Security Belt, a force dominated by fighters who seek independence for southern Yemen.
On Friday, fierce clashes broke out between the two sides during which a mortar round crashed into a house killing six people, four of whom were from the same family, a security source said.
Twelve other people were wounded in the fighting, the source said.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) tweeted Friday that it had treated 75 people in a hospital run by the charity “since yesterday (Thursday) night” including seven who were in a critical condition.
“Most of the patients we admitted are civilians and were injured by shrapnel during shelling on their houses or stray bullets,” MSF said.